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(Modem J J BLACK FIFTH WHEEL.

No. 451,687. PatentedMay 5,1891.

WITNESSES, INVENTD H W wmw $511M w: NOHRKS PETERS cm, mom-11114111, whsmNcfiou, n. c.

,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JOHN J. BLACK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BLACK SPRING AND GEAR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,687, dated May 5,1891.

Application filed May 19, 1890. Serial No. 352,346. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: than in the opposite direction, whereby it may Be it known that I, JOHN J. BLACK, a eitibe made lighter than when in any'other form zen of theUnited States, residingat Cleveland, and at the sametime be strong enough for in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, its intended purpose.

have invented certain new and useful Im- G represents a bracket, secured to the unprovements in Fifth-VVheels, of which the folder side of the Wagon-body behind the kinglowing is such a full, clear,.and exact descripbolt, and in this'bracket is mounted a roller g. tion as will enable others skilled in the art to The curved part of the D-iron, when the parts which it appertains to make and use the same. are properly arranged,lies between this roller [0 My invention is in the nature of an imand the bottom of the wagon.

provementuponthatformoffifth-wheel which H H represents bars or springs by which is first shown in my patent, No. $392,712, grantthe D-iron is connected with the forward axle.

ed to me November 13, 1888. The inner ends of these bars or springs are The objects of my invention are to reduce rigidly secured to the sides of the straight the costof such mechanism, to increase its part of the D-iron by clips, as shown in the strength and durability without increasing drawings, or by other suitable means. Either its weight, and to provide means whereby-it the shafts or the outer ends of the bars or will operate more easily-that is, with less springs H should be connected to the forward friction-than does the prior device shown in axle pivotally, and in the preferable construc- 20 the patent mentioned or any modification tion it is the bars or springs H that are so conthereof. nected therewith.

To this end my invention consists of the \Vhen the parts are arranged as shown, the construction and combination of parts herein bars or springs II and the D-iron, when sedescribed, and pointed out definitely in the cured together as explained, become in effect 2 5 claims. a lever pivoted atthe a-xle. 7

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 isa per- The weight is applied by the wagon-body spective view of my improved fifth-wheel, at the king-bolt, and the tendency is to throw with the wagon-body shown in dotted lines. the rear end of the levee-i. 6., the curved Fig. 2 is a top View of the D-iron which forms part of the D-iron-downward. This move- 0 a part thereof, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of ment is arrested, throws the curved part e the bracket and roller. against the roller g, and when the fifth-wheel Referring to the parts by letter, A repreis turning upon the king-bolt for the purpose sents the front axle, and B the body of the of turningthe wagon the rollerrevolves, therevehicle, and C C represents the shafts. by reducing the friction to a minimum.

5 E represents a frame which I call the D-. It is believed that the construction above iron, which consists of a cross-bare, having a described is superior to any of the forms insuitable rub-plate e, through which the kingvolving this same general principle which bolt passes, the part e curved in the form of have been shown in my prior patents, and an arc of a circle of which the king-bolt is that it is superior to them, particularly in that 40 the center, and, in the best form, the two it is cheaper, stronger for its weight, and op- 0 straight parts 6 a which connect this curved crates with less friction than any of said part with the cross-bar and which lie at an anformer devices. gle to each other, as shown most clearly in I represents a step, L a plate substantially Fig. 2, whereby the straight side bars II are parallel to said step, and t a bar rigidly con- 45 spread apart at their outer ends, and are thus nectlng said plate and step. This plate 7. 1s 5 enabled to connect with the axle near the rigidly fastened to the D-iron by the same wheels and give a more stable support to the clips which fasten the side. bars H thereto. wagon-body. In its preferable form this D- This is the most inexpensive mode of coniron is forged from a single piece of wrought necting a step to a wagon, and a step so con- 50 metal, which is thicker from top to bottom nected withthe D-iron will always be in acon- I00 venient position for use on one side of the wagon, while 011 the other side, when the front wheels are tnrned'about the king-bolt, said step will be carried beneath the wagon-body, where it can oifer no obstruction to the operation of the running-gear or fifth-Wheel mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the wagon-body, the D-iron consisting of the curved part 6 the cross-bar c, and plate c with the king-bolt f, the bracket G, having the roller 9, and suitable connection between said D-iron and the forward axle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a fifth-wheel for vehicles, a D-iron consisting of a cross-bar e, a rub-plate e, the curved part 6 and the straight side pieces 6 e, which side pieces are set at an angle to each other, said parts being integral with each other and thicker from top to bottom than in the opposite direction, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

The eonibinationof awagon-bodyandaD- iron consisting of the curved part 0 the crossbare, and plate 6' with the king-bolt f, bracket G, side bars II, the plate 2', step I, connectingbar 1', and clips which rigidly connect the side bar, D-iron, and plate 1 substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4-.. The combination of a wagon-body, an axle, a frame having a curved bearing-plate, a king-bolt engaging with said frame at substantially the center of curvature of said plate, a bracket secured to said body,a roller pivoted to said bracket, and springs connected at their rear ends to said frame and at their forward ends to the axle, substantially 

